Chapter 1

The moment I heard the zombies outside the base howling through the mountain woods, I knew I had been reborn.

Instinct took over. I bolted out of the room and lunged straight for the broadcast station's control panel.

"Attention, everyone! This is not a drill! A large-scale horde is closing in! All personnel, fall back to the underground safe room immediately!"

The words had barely left my mouth when the noise outside spiked. The snarls grew thicker, closer, and mingled with panicked screams from the humans.

"Everyone, move! Now!"

I gripped the dagger in my hand, herding the scattered crowd while slashing down a few zombies that had already broken in. "Head to the safe room. Stay together and keep calm!"

The retreat was a nightmare. Danger came from every corner.

I dragged a few kids who were frozen in shock and shoved them through the reinforced door. Then, I swung back and buried my blade into a zombie's neck before stumbling in after them, barely holding it together.

The heavy door slammed shut, sealing off the hell outside, at least for now.

People collapsed where they stood, still shaking. Then, they broke down completely, sobbing out loud.

A young mother clutching her baby grabbed onto me, desperate. "Selene, you have to find Captain Morwood! Get him to bring the squad back and save us!"

I shut my eyes. There was no gentle way to say it, so I didn't try. "Quinton took the entire squad out to the hills on the outskirts. He's up there with Madeline, watching the sunrise."

The safe room exploded into chaos.

"Watching the sunrise? Now of all times?"

"He's lost his mind! He left all of us here to die just to keep that woman company?"

Just then, the metal door shuddered under heavy blows, clanging loudly. The center panel was already starting to warp. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the horde broke through.

We couldn't wait any longer.

"Maybe… Maybe we don't need them back."

The idea hit me all at once. I turned to my mother-in-law, Audrey Miller, and said, "Mom, the electric grid! If we power up the high-voltage fence outside, it can fry them!"

Audrey's eyes lit up. She nodded right away. "You're right—the grid!"

She swiftly hurried to the corner and pulled out the hidden communication device. Under everyone's watch, she connected the line.

"What is it, Mom? I'm in the middle of something here," Quinton Morwood said impatiently, like we were the ones interrupting him.